Sean Murdoch

Sean Murdoch (born 31 July 1986) is a Scottish former professional football goalkeeper. Murdoch, who began and ended his career with Dunfermline Athletic, also played for Forfar Athletic, Hamilton Academical, Accrington Stanley, Hibernian and Rochester Rhinos.

Sean Murdoch
Personal information
Full name Sean Murdoch
Date of birth (1986-07-31) 31 July 1986
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
0000–2003 Heart of Midlothian
2003–2005 Dunfermline Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2008 Dunfermline Athletic 5 (0)
2005–2006 → Forfar Athletic (loan) 13 (0)
2006 → Forfar Athletic (loan) 17 (0)
2007 → Hamilton Academical (loan) 11 (0)
2008–2011 Hamilton Academical 11 (0)
2011–2012 Accrington Stanley 13 (0)
2012–2014 Hibernian 2 (0)
2015 Rochester Rhinos 1 (0)
2015–2019 Dunfermline Athletic 82 (0)
National team
2003 Scotland U18 11 (0)
2006 Scotland U19 8 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 13:30, 1 January 2018 (UTC)

Career

Early career

Born in Edinburgh, Murdoch grew up in the Wester Hailes area of the city.[1] He played for youth teams of Hearts, but he moved across the Firth of Forth to play for Dunfermline in 2003.[2] Murdoch progressed through the Dunfermline youth and reserve teams, earning international recognition.[2] He moved on loan for the 2005–06 season to Forfar Athletic in order to get some first team experience.[2] Murdoch signed a new 3-year contract with Dunfermline in July 2006, but was expected to move out loan again.[3] He returned to Forfar on loan during the first half of the 2006–07 season.[4] In the second half of the 2006–07 season, he moved on loan to First Division team Hamilton Academical.[5]

Murdoch made his first team debut for Dunfermline in a 2007–08 UEFA Cup tie against Swedish club BK Hacken.[6] Murdoch was at fault for the goal scored by Hacken, but made some good saves later in the game.[7] He was second choice behind Paul Gallacher for most of the 2007–08 season and left to join Hamilton for a nominal fee of £15,000.[5]

Hamilton Academical

On 6 May 2008, Murdoch signed for SPL side Hamilton, whom he had been on loan at earlier in his career.[5][8][9] He extended his contract with Hamilton in May 2009.[10] Murdoch was with the club for three years, but found it difficult to displace first choice goalkeeper Tomas Cerny. He left Hamilton in 2011,[11] after the club had been relegated from the SPL.[12]

Accrington Stanley

Murdoch signed for Football League Two club Accrington Stanley on a one-year deal in July 2011.[11] He made his debut on 6 August 2011, in the opening game playing against Northampton Town, where he kept a clean sheet.[13] Murdoch went on to become the first choice goalkeeper in the club's first twelve matches to the start of the season. However, Murodch lost his first choice role with the arrival of Lee Nicholls and the returning of Ian Dunbavin.[14] After eight months at the club, Murdoch walked away from his contract in March 2012, due to a lack of payment.[15]

Hibernian

He signed for SPL club Hibernian in October 2012 on a short-term contract, providing cover for Ben Williams and allowing young goalkeeper Calum Antell to move out on loan.[16][17] In January 2013, his contract with Hibernian was extended until the end of the 2012–13 season.[18] Murdoch made his only first team appearance of the 2012–13 season in a 3–1 win at Kilmarnock on 15 May. He agreed a new contract with Hibs during the close season.[19] Murdoch was released by Hibs at the end of the 2013–14 season.[20]

Later career

After a short spell with USL side Rochester Rhinos, Murdoch returned to his former club Dunfermline Athletic in July 2015.[21] Murdoch was named the Scottish League One player of the month for October 2015, after keeping four clean sheets in the league for that month.[22] In addition to this, he was instrumental in setting a new club record for clean sheets, after not conceding a goal in 612 minutes.[23] A successful season with the club saw the Pars win the Scottish League One, with Murdoch signing a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the Fife side until summer 2018. Murdoch signed a further one-year extension on 20 June 2017.[24]

Murdoch was first choice keeper for the Pars for most of 2016 through to the end of 2017, however, an injury to his pubic area saw him miss the rest of the 2017–18 season,[25] with his last performance coming against Brechin City on 23 December 2017.[26] Murdoch announced in April 2019 that he would retire from playing football at the end of the 2018–19 season, and that he intended to become a referee.[27] He had long shown an interest in becoming a referee,[28] and had already achieved a qualification at the time of his retirement.[27]

Personal life

In December 2014, Murdoch went viral when he proposed to his girlfriend in New York's Times Square and needed help with a credit "of dancers from New York's Broadway Dance Centre".[29]

Career statistics
As of 1 January 2018[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup[note 1] League Cup[note 2] Other[note 3] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dunfermline Athletic 2005–06[31] Scottish Premier League 000000–00
2006–07[32] 000000–00
2007–08[33] Scottish First Division 5000003080
Total 5000003080
Forfar Athletic (loan) 2005–06[31] Scottish Second Division 130000000130
2006–07[32] 170001020200
Total 300001020330
Hamilton Academical (loan) 2006–07[32] Scottish First Division 110000000110
Hamilton Academical 2008–09[34] Scottish Premier League 400010–50
2009–10[35] 600000–60
2010–11[36] 100000–10
Total 1100010–120
Accrington Stanley 2011–12[37] Football League Two 130101000150
Hibernian 2012–13[38] Scottish Premier League 100000–10
2013–14[39] 100000–10
Total 200000–20
Rochester Rhinos 2015 United Soccer League 100000–10
Dunfermline Athletic 2015–16[40] Scottish League One 340303030430
2016–17[41] Scottish Championship 300400020360
2017–18[42] 180105030270
2018–19[43] 0000000000
Total 8208080801060
Career total 1520901101301850

Honours

Club
Dunfermline Athletic

Individual

References
  1. Hardie, David (11 October 2012). "New Hibernian goalkeeper Sean Murdoch determined to take No 1 jersey". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Publishing. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  2. "Sean Murdoch". www.dafc.co.uk. Dunfermline Athletic FC. Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  3. "Woods signs deal with Dunfermline". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  4. "Transfers – July 2006". BBC Sport. BBC. 31 July 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  5. McGilvray, Andy (8 May 2008). "Goalkeeper Murdoch grabs new opportunity at Accies". Hamilton Advertiser. Scottish & Universal Newspapers. Archived from the original on 23 November 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2012.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. "Dunfermline 1–1 BK Hacken". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  7. "Kenny backing keeper after error". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  8. "Bryn Halliwell departs Sean Murdoch signs". Retrieved 6 May 2008.
  9. "Hamilton move for keeper Murdoch". BBC Sport. BBC. 7 May 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2008.
  10. "Murdoch extends Hamilton contract". BBC Sport. BBC. 25 July 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  11. "Accrington Stanley sign Kern Miller and Sean Murdoch". BBC Sport. BBC. 28 July 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  12. "Hamilton axe eight stars as reality of relegation sets in". Daily Record. 14 May 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  13. "Northampton 0 – 0 Accrington Stanley". BBC Sport. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  14. "Murdoch leaves". Google Blogspot. 15 March 2012. Archived from the original on 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. "Stanley show Murdoch the door". Sky Sports. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  16. "New Goalkeeper Signs". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 6 October 2012.
  17. "Hibernian sign goalkeeper Sean Murdoch on short-term deal". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  18. "Transfer Window Update". www.hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  19. "Thomson returns to Hibs for pre-season". The Herald. Herald & Times Group. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  20. "Out of Contract Players". Hibernianfc.co.uk. Hibernian FC. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  21. "The return of two for Pars". dafc.co.uk. 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  22. "Murdoch is League 1 Player of Month". spfl.co.uk. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  23. Johnstone, Darren (19 November 2015). "Dunfermline goalkeeper Sean Murdoch sets new club record for clean sheets". Capital City Press. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  24. Hart, Ross (20 June 2017). "Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper Sean Murdoch signs contract extension to keep him at East End Park until 2019". Dunfermline Press. Newsquest. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  25. "Sean's problem solving!". Dunfermline Press. Newsquest. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  26. "Dunfermline 2 – 1 Brechib City". BBC Sport. BBC. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  27. "Sean Murdoch: Dunfermline Athletic goalkeeper to retire become referee". BBC Sport. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  28. "Refs are being harshly treated but I still want to do their job when I quit playing, says Hamilton keeper Sean Murdoch". Daily Record. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  29. "Best marriage proposal ever? Watch dancing footie ace's flashmob routine in New York's Times Square". Daily Mirror. 21 December 2014. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  30. Sean Murdoch at Soccerbase
  31. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  32. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  33. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  34. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  35. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  36. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  37. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  38. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  39. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  40. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  41. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  42. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
  43. "Games played by Sean Murdoch in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  44. McLaughlin, Brian (26 March 2016). "Dunfermline 3 – 1 Brechin City". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 28 December 2016.

Notes
  1. Includes FA Cup
  2. Includes Football League Cup and Scottish League Cup
  3. Includes all other competitions.
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